Tibetan art and photos will be on display at the MSU Billings Library through Sept. 27

Tibetan art and photos on display at MSUB Library this week

Contacts:
Dan Carter, University Relations, 657-2269

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — A display of Thangka paintings, embroideries and photographs from Tibet are now on display at the Montana State University Billings Library as part of a community-wide presentation on sacred Tibetan art in Billings.

While nearly everyone in America is familiar with the name and reputation of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, the issue of on-going preservation of Tibetan culture is less understood. Generating awareness of the Tibetan culture — as well as similarities to American Indian culture — is a part a weeklong series of presentations in Billings.

As part of the event, the library at MSU Billings has some Tibetan painting and embroideries on display. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 2-10 p.m. :00pm-10:00pm. The display will be up through Thursday, Sept. 27.

With the art are some photos from the collection of Dr. C. Adrian Heidenreich. A professor emeritus in the Department of Sociology, Political Science, & Native American Studies at MSU Billings, Heidenreich has had a special interest in cultural dynamics, religion, ethnohistory, visual anthropology, literature and intercultural Images. He has traveled and studied extensively abroad to learn more about connections between native cultures in different parts of the world.

The goals of the community event are to educate and help raise awareness of Tibet and Tibetan culture, recognize similarities between Tibetan and Native American cultures and the historical-political contexts in which they exist, appreciate art and its connection to philosophy and religion, and encourage mutual understanding, tolerance, and resolution of conflicts. Among the presentations are art demonstrations in Downtown Billings.